12/28/10 Black Chronicle 2010

Disgusted by frequent and unpunished killings of animals, Animal Friends appeals at the public to resolutely demands punishing of crimes committed on animals

- People are invited to the protest for implementation of the Animal Protection Act, January 15, 2011

Although the Animal Protection Act, Criminal Law and other regulation and rule books clearly regulate sanctioning of animal torture and abuse, throughout the whole year terrible crimes are committed on animals, often without the sanctioning of the offender.

Individuals and institutions who are supposed to implement regulations still relativize and diminish crimes on animals as effort-less-worthy about finding the offender. Because, those are "only dogs" or "only animals." By igoring or silently approving more frequent cases of sadistic torture and abuse of animals, institutional representatives become equally responsible for committed crimes. They send out the message that everybody can leave animals or undisturbedly let off steam over them, without being sanctioned for that.

Without self-will prevention of unbalanced individuals and hunters, without public condemnation and strictest penalties, laws are only a dead letter. It is about time that by sanctioning of animal abuse Croatia makes an ethical move and that crimes on animals are taken seriously, for the one who tortures animals is equally capable to abuse children and grownups. Violence is violence and it should be condemned.

Here are only some of numerous cases of animal abuse in 2010:

January 8, 2010, Velika Ludina near Popovaca: In one year poisoned 28 dogs

Unknown poisoner spreads fear in Obrtnicka ulica in Velika Ludina near Popovaca. Twenty eight dogs of the residents of that street are killed by poisoning in one year. Spokesperson of Sisacko-moslavacka police administration invited the residents of Obrtnicka ulica who lost their dogs to poisoning to contact the police, because the offender is commits an offence of damage and destruction of other's "thing."

January 24, 2010, sv. Rok: A puppy with a stone tied around his neck thrown into the sea

Martin Pavelic's three-months old puppy from sv. Rok was thrown into the sea by an unknown offender who tied the stone around his neck. Shocked Pavelic immediately called the police who quickly brought in Ivan M. (61) from Pag under suspicion of the murdering of a dog and pressed criminal charges against him for animal torture.

February 8, 2010, Osijek: Tomcat's head smashed against a concrete block

Members of the organizations "Maca" and "Pobjede" raised charges against the unknown offender who brutally beat to death tomcat Micko in the city qaurter Retfala in Osijek. The animal was first caught with wire and then his head was smashed against a concrete block.

February 27, 2010, village Magic Mala near Nova Gradiska: Beat up with fists and kicked puppy to death

Animal Friends reported to the veterinary inspection a 31 years old man from Magic Mala village near Nov Gardiska who in the horrible way killed helpless two months old puppy. Merciless killer first punched the puppy with his fists, then he kicked him with his shoes until he died from a severe beating. Polici pressed charges because of animal torture. Embittered Facebook users organized a petition signing for the severe punishment of the killer who is a threat both to animals and people. Veterinary inspection did not react on the Animal Friends' report.

March 5, 2010, Sisak: Killing of dogs in the Veterinary Station in Sisak

Animal Friends and animal protection organization Patronus Sisak filed misdemeanor criminal charges against Djuro Bugarin, owner of the Veterinary Station in Sisak, on the grounds of multiple violations of relevant laws and regulations. According to the media, Bugarin was solving the problem of abandoned animals in Sisak by killing them by a rifle immediately after catching them. The media also says that citizens and volunteers from animal protection groups are not allowed to approach and help sick and maltreated dogs, being left with no food, water and veterinarian care. State Attorney's Office in Sisak on October 20, 2010 filed with the Magistrate Court in Sisak motion to indict Djuro Bugarin due to violation of Articles 66-67 of the Animal Protection Act.

March 6, 2010, Vinkovci: A dog burned with gasoline

A mongrel dog of the age of nine months was tied with a thick wire around his neck by unknown vandals in the center of Vinkovci, poured with gasoline and set on fire. Wounded dog was found in a state of shock, with severe burns of his back, head and snout.

March 6, 2010, Vinkovci: Cats left with drewn eyes and cut off tails

Organization of animal friends dr. Ivan Rastos from Vinkovci published the photos of a dog someone set on fire with the gasoline and appealed on people to let them know if they have any information about the guardian or the torturers of the dog. They also published photos of a cat with a removed eye and of another cat with the cut off tail. Unfortunate animals were also exposed to shooting sling and stones.

March 29, 2010, Krizevci: Venting their steam over rabbit

Internet user under the nick kristijan1220 uploaded a footage titled Welcome to Krizevci. In it, among other things, there is also his short video "A Bunny Smokes." On the footage, the bunny was caught by his ears and a burning cigarrette was put into his mouth. Then they wave with paws of exhausted animal while the gathered bunch is cursing, approving the abuse of the rabbit.

April 1, 2020, Popovac: Systematical dogs poisoning

Dogs poisoning is more and more frequent appearance in Popovac. Animals are systematically poisoned, so it is not strange that dogs from the whole street die.

Brothers Tubic's bull from Vrbovac won on the bullfights in Dicmo in Dalmatinska zagora. Despite severe injuries, he earned his owners 35,000 kuna and a trophey handed by vice-prefect Luka Brcic. While passing the Animal Protection Act, a political lobby removed a ban on bullfights from the law, as a shame on the entire Croatia and to the detriment of animal protection.

May 12, 2010, northern Dalmatia: A bottlenose dolphin shot by a shotgun

On the southern side of Kapri, a grown-up male of the bottlenose dolphin shot by the shotgun and anchored on the cliff was found. The dolphin was hit by lead pellets in the left side of the front half of body, which caused internal bleeding and death of an animal. His age was estimated at 10-11 years, and the carcass around one month. Before the unknown offender killed him, the animal was healthy. Predicted fines range from 25,000 to 200,000 kuna, while the Criminal Law also predicts the fine of imprisonment, because the dolphin is protected by the Nature Protection Law as a strictly protected species.

June 6, 2010, village Kerumi: Poisoned dogs and cats

In the vilage Kerumi lots of cats and dogs died in hard pain after they ate posioned baits in the hunting ground Borovaca. Poisons do not endanger only animals, but also children who are in contact with poisoned animals.

June 14, 2010, Zupanja: Because of tradition they killed horses

At the location "Ilijin i Rezin stan" near Zupanja, in the organization of the Zupanja Tourist Board, the manifestation "Harvesting and treshing in the past" was held on June 7, 2010. The members of Horse breeding association "Stari granicar" from Zupanja also participated with four peasant carts which were harnessed to two mares. During the presentation of harvest practices the horses were left for more than half an hour in the open field, in direct sunlight at a temperature of 39°C. The drunk participants of the event have, after multiple warnings of the journalist Ljiljanka Mitos Svoboda, removed the horses who were wet from sweat into a weak shade. Two mares have died as a result of a heart stroke and too much strain.

July 25, 2010, Viljevo near Donji Miholjac: A man hangs his own dog because of attack on a neighbor

Fourty years old man from Viljevo killed his cross-breed dog by hanging him on a wooden beam in a garage, because the dog had bitten his neighbor in the leg. Criminal charges for animal abuse have been filed against him.

July 27, 2010, Peljesac: Python pierced with spear and head cut off with an axe

Animal Friends filed reports to the Veterinary inspection, Inspection of Nature Protection and the Municipal State Attorney's Office against Eugen Uvodic and Kreso Frankovic from Prapratno on Peljesac because of torturing and killing a grid python. They have tortured the python by stabbing him with spears of an air rifle, and after two hours of torture, they cut off his head with an axe, although the snake did not threaten them. A report has been filed for abandoning an animal as well.

July 28, 2010, Makarska: Ponies as live carousel on high temperatures

After many reports from shocked tourists, Animal Friends sent a misdemeanor and criminal charges because of the torturing of ponies in Makarska. In a fenced area on the city beach in Makarska, the ponies were tied to horizontal steel rods, representing live carousel for children, while in extremely inhumane conditions at high temperatures, the ponies had to circle the same round daily, and the owner was charging the rides. The Tourist Board of Makarska, which received a lot of complaints from tourists, did not respond.

August 25, 2010, Slavonski Brod: A dog hung on a suspension bridge

Many citizens were outraged at the sight of JANAF bridge in Slavonski Brod, where a lifeles corpse of a dog was hanging by a thin rope. Although notified, the police claims the dog hung himself?!?!

August 31, 2010, Zagreb-Skopje: Deers and antilopes died in transport because of heat stroke and suffocation

Animal Friends filed misdemeanor and criminal charges against the carrier Bero d.o.o. for the death of two deers and two antilopes during transportation from Skopje to Zagreb's zoo. Crammed into tinny boxes in which they could not even turn their heads, without water, at temperatures above 40°C, the animals have died from heat stroke and suffocation.

September 1, 2010, Bosnia and Herzegovina: A girl throws puppies in the river

The world was appaled by the Internet footage of a girl in a red hoodie who throws puppies down the river while laughing about it. On a croatian message board, the person who allegedly filmed the cruel video, identified himself as the brother of the girl. He explained that in his backyard a dog who was "filled with milions of diseases" gave birth, so for the "preservation of his and everybody else's health," he decided to thrown the puppies into a river. Although the girl is identified, and Bosnia and Herzegovina has punishmentes for animal torture, it is not known if the girl had any sanctions because of the cruel murder of the puppies.

November 1, 2010, Duga Resa: Hunter shot and mutilated dog

During a walk with guardian Leo Blauhorn, the peaceful 12-year-old labrador was shot by a hunter causing her terrible injuries. While the guardian tried to take the heavily wounded dog in severe pain, who literally had a hole in his back, the hunter announced that he will file a report because the dog's guardian did not walk the dog on a leash, the hunter also refused to help the injured dog, but proudly admitted the it was indeed he who shot the dog. The police rushed to charge a penalty for not walking the dog on a leash, but showed no interest in punishing the hunter, because "it was just a dog." And, "a hunter is a hunter."

November 11, 2010, Bozivac: Dog tied and beaten with a rack in the woods

During a walk, two citizens of Bizovac noticed a dog who someone tied up to a tree, killed by a blow on the head and left. Investigation was carried out by employees of PP Valpovo accompanied by a veterinarian who confirmed that the dog, despite the fact he was tied very strongly to the tree, did not die of suffocation, but from savage kicks in the head with a blunt object.

November 24, 2010, Diklo near Zadar: Bus driver ran over and killed three dogs

Bus driver from the company Liburnija d.o.o. in Diklo near Zadar, despite the speed limit of 30 km/h, according to the testimony of eyewitnesses, hit the gas padel when he saw three dogs who ran behind the curve, ran over them and went on without stopping. Police and management of Liburnija d.o.o. said that the driver is not facing any penalties, while the guardians of the murdered dogs are facing penalties for keeping animals without supervision. Because of this dangerous and unethical conduct, Animal Friends has filed misedemeanor and criminal charges for the killing of dogs, violations of traffic regulations and endangering lives, as well as demanded his dismissal from work.

December 24, 2010, Harmica near Zapresic: Dogs left for a month, chained and hungry

Volunteers of the association Paw entered, after an alert, in a house in Harmica and there found about 20 dogs, some of whom were dead, while others were starved and chained, with no water. For one month they lived without food and water confined in a dark room where the owner of the house has left them when, because of illness, she had to be transfered to a hospital in Vrapce.

Due to an extremely bad situation in Croatia regarding the protection of animals and poor implementation of the Animal Protection Act, Animal Friends invites to a protest for the implementation of the law in Zagreb, on January 15, 2011, at 11 A.M.

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Animal Friends is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 2001 with the aim to promote animal protection and animal rights as well as veganism, as ethical, ecological and healthy lifestyle.
Animal Friends Croatia is a member organization of EVU,
Eurogroup for Animals, ECEAE, FFA, IAFC and OIPA.